Separator for electric accumulators



Feb.` 16, 1960 G. H. BEUSKERET AL'. 2,925,456

' s EPARAToR Fon ELECTRIC AccuMuLAToRs Filed May 14; 1956 s sheets-sheet 1 FEL-'gul INV EN TOR Gerardus HAenclrLklv/ s Beus/wr FrLedr/'ch Augus Schnellcler t ATTORNEYS.

Fb. 16, 1960 -G. EsI-:US'KERk l-:TAL 2,925,456

sEPARAToR FOR ELECTRIC AccUMuLAToRs Filed May 14. 1956 l I 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 i :l: 'r w1 INVENTQR Gerardus Hendrikus Beusker Friedrich August Sc/'mel'.er

BY @JMX/mum ATTORNEYS Feb. 16, 1960 v l G. H. BEUSKVERv x-:TAL n 2,925,455

' sEPARAToR FOR ELECTRIC AccuMULAToRs Filed May 14, 1956 v sweets-sheet s Il. I (D INV ENTOR Gerard Us Hendrikus lBeus ker.

BY//MJML//mw i ATTORNEYS I K :filtering element, lZthe :intermediate, velement'andfa the otherr facing element. "'[hefacingliltering element -1 conv Y, 2,925,456. y -srPARA'roR'roR ELECTRIC "'ronjs Gerardus Hendrikus Beusketg Arnhem, andifFi'iedl-ich August Schneider, Venlo, Netherlands, ,-assignors. to.l Acfcumulatorenfa'briek Varta'N. ,.4, Neuh), Limburg, Netherlands, v'a .limited-liability 'compahyof the`, Netl 1e:r

applicati@ May 14,- 19,5;6, serial massaszs- V1s claims.' j (Cl. i13"6+.145)

v The invention relates lto a-separatrforlelectric:accumufacing elements consists of a non-splittingA ltering'f'layer v (such las a ilter `plate or -ltercloth)"withporesnot p `.greater than about'0.02 mm. The Yintermediateelement .or layer consists of a corrugated andlperforated plate-of plastic or hard rubber,and ,the other'facinglfelementor layer `consists of `a glass'mat, said-'threeelements-being -joined by sewin'g'along at least:onevseampassingithrough acorrugation ofthe intermediateelement. f l

'The -choice of this construction Vis based on; the .dis-

-coverythat effective combination of .a number loffzelements which are'partly Aknown vperse results in several lvimportant advantages, which vare -to be described more in detail below. v Y

'A The drawing illustrates, by rwayl of example, a number'V :of embodiments of separators accordingto the invention'. l Fig- 1 is a cross-section .and .'Fig. :2.a sidexelevationyof :a first-embodiment, in which onlythe intermediateelement is corrugated. Y

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectionl through a secondembo'diment,

' in which lboth the facing filtering e1ement:andthe yintermediate elementare corrugated.'

Fig. 4 is across-section. through a'third-'embodimen Iin 4which the separator is iitted Iwith reinforcing needles. Fig. l5 is a side elevation of:the separator according to Fig. 4,v in Vwhich the needles Vare..constructedin. a

.special-manner.` i. l. A y Fig. v6 is ya ,cross-section through a fourth v,ernbodmei1t,-`'`

in which some ofthe corrugations 1of .the intermediate element have a substantially krectangularvcross-section..

Fig. 7 is a cross-section-and Fig. v8.1a-sideelevation Fig'. 7a; is,a cross sectiomthroughiia;Sixthembodiment, :in whichr'two ofthe edges-of theliaineitlterinsielement zlrhavebeeln folded aboutqthemon. qrrugatedadjacent edges of thefintermediate elemen.

Figsf9 and 10 arepartialing members;

.In all the -gures ,I n'v Figsul `and 2 ,the numeral 1 indicates the facing sists of ay non-splitting-ilterplat'e `with `poter not-g`reater Y Y sideelevationsof-a seventh fand an eighth embodiment, inawhichoneofthe edges v of theinterxnediate element isv locally fitted Vwith vreinfc'ncp- United SraSPHffO *tiinyl chloride vor polystyrene basis, -microporous vhard A "=rUbber,\-acidresistant fabrics, 'fabrics fon a Vpolyamide and Y able materials .for Vthisdiltger plate are acid-resistant-Ymicroporous plastics on Jajpoly- 5 Vpljllyester;-.-b`asis, `glass fabrics, and acidresistantimpre'g- 'mated -microporous -materials,'such vas Ipaper, paper lreinforcedwith glass libres,r asbestos, andthe like. l As 'com `pared =wi th wool, Vthese ymaterials have the advantage `f=thattheycan easily rbesewn-ito thel other elementsolfthe l10 p l 1theradvantage'over woodthatthey-can be-builtrin fan ab- Vsolutely dry condition, Vso that the vseparators becomev separator without being damaged. v`They havethe fursu'itefd forT use in so-called Vdry charged batteries.

'TheY intermediate element 2 consists rof a corrugated Y and perforated plate o'fan -a'cidLresistant plastic,A such vas a plastic onv a polyvinyl chlorideibasis, or a similar plate 4of hard rubberfboth` of -which -are alsofelectrically nonconductive.

The p erforationsy made in vit are designated i The-'other facingelementV 3` consists of laWg'la-ss mat ,This has aslightly-smallerv Width than" thefeleme'nts 1 and 2. `Although Ithis is `-no absolute/requirement, it has the advantage that when a'separ-atordesigned in .this way the accumulator electrodes'fwill "deposit on the edges of theseparatorfsothat the risk of short-circuits between -the electrodes fisfminim'ized.y Alongthe edges ofA--fhe'separa- --tor, owing to the` smaller widthfof l'the' glass'mat 3 there l .-fare-formed-free1spaces,'throughlwhich'during' the charging 'v ".-In the separatoraccording'to Fig. 3 notonly kthe il-y 1 *.-terrnediate .element 2,but also 'the facing filtering 'ele'- riliberated.

use rvofthis. accumulator. :manufacture of the accumulator, vbut also'enhances its ry of the `accun'iulator1v-a Istrong lflow-ot '-'gasand 'liquid-will pass, wvhichwillremove any mass 'particlesithatr'nay 'be been-'joinedlby sewing along af'number yof seams 5, each of which passes through and-extends longitudinally valong .oneof the corrugations of the.intermediate-element 2.

'The provision vof such sewing seams is possible for a separator composed of the three elements described, without the rlsk of one or more of said elementssplittingduring the sewing operation.' By providing the sewn seams-the three elements are under all circumstances kept =irm1y togetherin the right relative position, so that they cannot shiftrelative `tonne-another eitherl during the c'o'n-` structionof an. accumulator with the aidV of aplurality of separators accordingr to `the invention, -or during the This' not onlyAv ysimplifiesl the durability.

ement 1 .is f corrugated. "Thelmutual distance of the cor- :rugations s thesame in both elementsland the v"corruga tions in elementylare aligned with' and `hence nested lof: a fthembodimenn'inwhich two ofthe `edges of-the .55 intermediate element Vare non-corrugated and non-per# f'foratedfY f' within the .corrugations olf-fthe elementZl The height Aofthe corrugations of the element 1 i's'l'ess thanone half Y theheight of thecorrugations-of the element 2.

When this way the v'element' 1, too, isittedwith l `cokrru'gations, therl-three :elements of the separatorYY are jfkept togetherV even more effectively and firmly 'by' the seamsfS. '.'At the same timefthedegassing'of thejn'egativeV electrodeszof. the laccumulatorlsg improved lto the extentv thatgespecially at'lowftemperatures, c g. --2 0 Cv., va con- Vffsider'ablyf greater startingfcapacity fis'obtained."

'Corresponding .Darts haveben ,1fcs-g-fi nated by the samey referencenumerals.

"vfThe-separator'shown in' vFig. 4-is providedwith Vanuniv ber of spaced needles 6, `which have been applied 'between thev element and fthe' element 2, land-each of; :which =lies in a'corrug-ation of the element-2;` Said V`1needlescan'be made of anfacid-resstaut plasticor of hard-rubber. Y Y

The needles are of special advantage for separators destined lto "l be Iused -in -v accumulators which d uring use are exposed; tofexcessive-vibrationsand.A shocks,- such-es Patented Feb. 16, 1960 make it possible to pack vthe separators and electrodes of such accumulators tightly in the accumulator box,

which greatly reduces the risk of damage to the accumulator electrodes, even during rough handling.

The needles 6 can be provided before or Vafter the three elements of the separator have been sewn together. Under certain circumstances it may be advisable to fasten them to the corresponding corrugations of the intermediateelement 2 and, if necessary, also to the facing filtering element 1, which 4may be done, for example, by means of an acid-resistant adhesive or by welding or sealing.

i 'i 2,925,456v

VVmotor and tractor batteries. The presence of the needles l 4 bled locally about the lower edgerof the element 2 and can, if desired, be fastened thereto.

In Fig. 10 the reinforcement consists of a triangular part of the element 2 itself, which first extended downwards beyond the lower edge of said. element and afterwards was doubled up. In this manner, too, a firm supporting member `is formed, which rests on the elevation 11 of the bottom 12 of the accumulator box.

It is self-,evident `that the embodiments of the separator according -to the invention as shown in the various figures can also be combined at need. Nor is the invention lim- Fig. 5 shows-a side ,elevation of the separator according to Fig. 4, provided with needles 6. At the bottom the needles extend beyond'the separator, and they may serve to support the separator, when mounted in an accumulator, on the bottom of the accumulator box. Thus the firmness of the separators and accumulator electrodes mountedin said box is enhanced even further.

In the separator according to Pig. 6 and also Fig. 7a certain of the corrugations of the intermediate element 2, designated by 7,` have a substantially rectangular cross- .material and consequently is Yof great strength. This effect is enhanced even further if, as also shown in Fig. 6, in each substantially rectangular corrugation 7 of the element 2 is positioned i.e. nested a corrugation 8 ited to the embodiments shown in said figures or the combinations thereof. Within the scope of the invention a greatmany'variations are possible.

The separator accordingto the invention is particularly suited for accumulators to be stored in dry condition, or for so-called dry charged accumulators. Indeed, such accumulators-if they are to keep their capacity even during prolonged storage-after being mounted have to be perfectly free from moisture. This cannot be attained with wooden or wood-containing separators because wood cannot be rendered perfectly dry without splitting, or at least becoming so easy to split that it can'no longer be mounted without being damaged.

`Accumulators with separators according to the invention,

on the contrary, can be mounted dry, and can therefore Y be stored for long periods, either charged or not, without their capacity being appreciably impaired.

What we claim is:v

, l. A three layer lseparator for electric accumulators, said separator comprising an intermediate layer and two facing layers applied to opposite sides of said intermediate layer, one of said vfacing layers consisting of a of approximately equal height of the element 1. Owing f to the coincidence of the corresponding corrugations 7 and S the sewing seams can be made more firmly and the three elements are fixed exceptionally effectively in relation to one another.

In the separator according to Figs. 7 and 8 those two edges 9 of the element 2 which are parallel to the corrugations in this element are non-corrugated and nonperforated, while lying` close against the element 1. Along these edges 9 the maximum possible space for the fiow of 'gas and liquid is thus obtained. Moreover'the risk of damage to the element 2 upon a number of separators and accumulator, electrodes being packed in an acctunulator box is reduced.

In vthe separator according to Fig. 7a the edges 9 of the element 2 are non-corrugated and either perforated or non-perforated. The element 1 consists of a filter;

cloth, whose edges 13 have been folded about the edges 9 of the elementi and fastened thereto. This fastening can be attained by using for the elements 1 and 2 suitable thermoplastic materials and welding or sealing each of the edges 9 of the element 2, by the applicationofheat, between the edge 13 of the element 1 and the remainder of this element. A suitable material for the element 1 is a filter cloth of polyester yarn, while a suitable material for the element 2 is a plastic on a polyvinyl chloride basis, such as solidpolyvinyl chloride.

Figs. 9 and l0 show that one ofthe edges of the element 2 which are atright angles to the corrugations of said element can be fitted locally with a reinforcement 10, so as to make it possible, without risk of damage,

lnhFig. 9 the reinforcement ,10 consists of a strong Qacid-resistant.,rriaterial,,eg. plasti cwhich has been v dounon-splitting acid-resistant microporous filter plate made from a materialV selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl chloride fibers, polystyrene fibers, fabric formed vfrom polyamide fibers, fabric formed from polyester fibers, hard rubber, glass fabric, impregnated paper, paper reinforced with-glass fibers and webs formed from asbestos fibers, the other of said facing layers consisting of a glass mat, said intermediate layer being a perforated and corrugated plate formed from a material selectedv from the group consisting of polyvinyl chloride the corrugations inv said intermediate layer and nested -within the latter, and the height of said corrugations'in longitudinally of the corrugations in said intermediate layer. Y v

4. VA separator for electric accumulators as defined in claim 3 lwherein said needles are secured to the corrugations in said intermediate layer along which they extend.

5.A separator-for electricfaccumulators as defined in claim 3 wherein said needles-'extend beyond at least one of the edgesof said separator.

6. v.1X-separator for electric accumulators as defined in claim l wherein at least one of the corrugations in said intermediate layer has a substantially rectangular Vcortguration and is not perforated, and saidsewing seam extends `along sa'id rectangularly configured corrugation.

7. A separator for electric accumulators as defined Yyiseprovided va Ikcorrugatiorrnested within Jsaidrec;

layer whichextend parallel with the corrugations thereof yare non-corrugated and lie close against` the surfacev of `said layer of lter material.

9. A separator forfelectric accumulators Vasdefined l inclaim 8 wherein the Vcorresponding edgeV portionsof said layer of filter material are folded over the said edge portions of said intermediate layer.v

10. A separator forf electric .accumulators as defined in claim l wherein one of the edges of said intermediate layer lying at a right angle to the direction of corruga-v tion is provided with a reinforcement.

11. A separator for electric accumulators as defined in claim 10 wherein said reinforcement for the edge 'ofYV said intermediate layer is established bya reinforcing` 13. A three layer separator forielectric accumulators,

`said separator'eomprising anintermediate layer and two Y l-facinglayers applied to opposite sides of said intermediate layer, one `of said facing layers beingconstituted 'by'. 'l a microporous polyester resin fabric, the v'other of said Y layersy consisting of a glass mat, said-intermediate layer"y being perforated andk corrugated and formed from poly.'- vinyl chloride,yan'd said three'layersr being united solely Y by being sewn together along at least one seam passing through and extending longitudinally along a corrugation;A

of said intermediate layer. Y

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,671,335 Willard May 29, 192s 1,786,328 rBenner et al Dec. 23,1930 2,511,887 Vinal 2 ,lune 2 0, 195.0

' k FOREIGN vPATENTS 29,511 Great Britain Dee 16, 1909 580,390 Great Britain Sept. 5, 1946 617,728 `GreatBritain Feb. 10, 1949 369,172 France e Nov. 3, 1906 524,965 Belgium Dec, 31, 1953 

1. A THREE LAYER SEPARATOR FOR ELECTRIC ACCUMULATORS, SAID SEPARATOR COMPRISING AN INTERMEDIATE LAYER AND TWO FACING LAYERS APPLIED TO OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID INTERMEDIATE LAYER, ONE OF SAID FACING LAYERS CONSISTING OF A NON-SPLITTING ACID-RESISTANT MICROPOROUS FILTER PLATE MADE FROM A MATERIAL SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF POLYVINYL CHLORIDE FIBERS, POLYSTYRENE FIBERS, FABRIC FORMED FROM POLYAMIDE FIBERS, FABRIC FORMED FROM POLYESTER FIBERS, HARD RUBBER, GLASS FABRIC, IMPREGNATED PAPER, PAPER REINFORCED WITH GLASS FIBERS AND WEBS FORMED FROM ASBESTOS FIBERS, THE OTHER OF SAID FACING LAYERS CONSISTING OF A GLASS MAT, SAID INTERMEDIATE LAYER BEING A PERFORATED AND CORRUGATED PLATE FORMED FROM A MATERIAL SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF POLYVINYL CHLORIDE PLASTIC AND HARD RUBBER, AND SAID THREE LAYERS BEING UNITED SOLELY BY BEING SEWN TOGETHER ALONG AT LEAST ONE SEAM PASSING THROUGH AND EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY ALONG A CORRUGATION OF SAID INTERMEDIATE LAYER. 